On the second day after the Zhu Xian Sword Array had taken form, Yuanshi Tianzun was the first to arrive, riding upon his Nine-Dragon Agarwood Chariot.
He gazed at the Zhu Xian Sword Array for a long moment, his brow furrowed. Soon after, Laozi also arrived, riding a green bull.
After the two Saints observed the formation, they quickly reached a conclusion.
“This array… is no trivial matter,” Laozi murmured, stroking his beard.
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded. “We must have the four Saints join forces if we are to break it.”
Laozi sighed. “In that case, let us invite our two fellow daoists from the west to assist us.”
Before long, a brilliant golden light erupted in the western sky. Zhunti and Jieyin arrived treading upon golden lotuses, their smiles filled with compassion.
“Since our fellow daoists have invited us, we shall naturally lend our strength.”
The four Saints gathered together and began to discuss their strategy to break the array.
Seeing this scene, Chesia could not help but complain, “Here they come. They’re going to bully him with numbers again.”
***
Outside Jiepai Pass, before the Zhu Xian Sword Array.
The four Saints stood suspended in the air, surrounded by auspicious clouds that resisted the constant waves of slaughtering qi crashing against them.
“Fellow daoists,” Laozi spoke first, “this array has four gates. We must strike simultaneously to break it. I shall handle the first sword, the Xian Xian Sword.”
Seeing this, Yuanshi Tianzun nodded in agreement. “In that case, I shall be the one to break the Zhu Xian Sword.”
Jieyin Daoist pressed his palms together. “Amitabha. This poor monk shall go and face the Lu Xian Sword.”
Zhunti Daoist smiled. “Then the Jue Xian Sword shall be left to me. However, Grandmaster Tongtian has a fiery temperament. If he sees his array being broken, I fear…”
Yuanshi Tianzun cold snorted. “If he dares to act, I shall deal with him myself.”
With a wave of his sleeve, he called forth four disciples: Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Yuding Zhenren, and Daoxing Tianzun.
“Wait outside,” Yuanshi Tianzun instructed. “Once we enter the array to break the swords, the four of you shall stand guard at the perimeter and wait for your chance. As soon as the sword array is broken, enter immediately and seize the swords!”
The four Golden Immortals grew excited upon hearing this. These were four supreme treasures of slaughter; whoever claimed one would find it to be their own great destiny.
Their master was clearly giving them the chance to seize the four swords of the Zhu Xian. They were top-tier slaughtering treasures. If they could obtain such divine swords, their combat power would surely skyrocket in the future.
“We obey our master’s command!” the four answered in unison.
Standing to the side, Ran Deng felt a surge of anxiety when he saw that Yuanshi Tianzun had not called his name.
He shamelessly stepped forward. “Master, then I —”
Yuanshi Tianzun shot him a sidelong glance and huffed. “I told you to take the Sea-Fixing Beads, yet you could not even hold onto them. Do you still have the face to ask for an assignment?”
Ran Deng’s face instantly turned ashen, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Yuanshi Tianzun was secretly annoyed. If Ran Deng had been able to keep the Sea-Fixing Beads, he could have had him lie in ambush nearby today. When Tongtian exited the array, he could have smashed him with the twenty-four beads to show him the power of the Chan Sect!
Most importantly, if he could kill or heavily injure Tongtian, it would count as removing a great threat for the Chan Sect! Even if their teacher blamed them, he could only blame Tongtian for his own lack of skill, falling at the hands of a junior.
Unfortunately, Ran Deng was a useless waste who could not even guard the Sea-Fixing Beads!
Speaking of which, where did those Sea-Fixing Beads go? Could Tongtian have reclaimed them? And his own treasury… how hateful.
At the thought of this, Yuanshi Tianzun’s expression darkened further.
Ran Deng was skilled at reading the room; he could only retreat dejectedly, not daring to provoke his master further.
At the same time, Zhunti Daoist was also secretly feeling regret.
He looked at the majestic Kui Ox beneath Grandmaster Tongtian and then at his own empty feet. As a dignified Saint, he did not even have a decent mount.
‘How wonderful would it have been if I had taken that peacock back then!’
Zhunti Daoist imagined Kong Xuan transforming into his original form, his tail feathers blooming with Five-Colored Divine Light, and himself standing upon the peacock’s back in a solemn divine manifestation. If he had the assistance of the Five-Colored Divine Light added to his own dharma body, he could even fight Tongtian one-on-one!
The more Zhunti thought about it, the more he regretted it. He decided that once the Investiture of Gods Tribulation was over, he would definitely look for a new opportunity to find a mount.
As for now, with the four Saints joined together, surely they could break a mere Zhu Xian Sword Array?
He felt slightly more at ease, but he could not help but calculate in his heart: after breaking the array, could he fish for some benefits?
Jieyin Daoist seemed to sense something. He glanced at Zhunti and shook his head slightly, signaling him not to cause unnecessary trouble.
Laozi took everything in but merely stroked his beard and shook his head.
Meanwhile, the Great Desolation Channel was already going wild:
**[Holy crap! We’re actually going to see the Saints fight!]**
**[This definitely represents the peak combat power of the Great Desolation, right?]**
**[The Chinese Pantheon is truly fierce. There are actually five such Saints!]**
**[I never thought I’d see the day the Saints actually throw hands. I’ve finally made it.]**
**[Start the fight already! I can’t wait to see all the magical treasures come out!]**
**[Selling melon seeds and stools in the front row!]**
**[Save a bag for me, upstairs!]**
**[Speaking of which, can Grandmaster Tongtian really hold his own against four?]**
[…]
While everyone was discussing heatedly, Su Fu only took one glance before looking away.
A fight between Saints was indeed more exciting.
***
Outside Jiepai Pass, before the Zhu Xian Sword Array.
“Everyone,” Laozi finally spoke, “the time has come. Break the array.”
Yuanshi Tianzun held the Three-Jeweled Jade Ruyi, Laozi had the Exquisite Pagoda of Heaven and Earth’s Xuanhuang Qi above his head, Jieyin stepped upon the twelve-grade golden lotus, and Zhunti held the Seven-Jeweled Tree. The four of them stood in their respective directions, prepared to strike simultaneously.
Guangchengzi and the other three Golden Immortals immediately scattered, each eyeing a specific gate, ready to move.
Grandmaster Tongtian stood atop the Kui Ox, the Qingping Sword in his hand. He stared at the four and sneered, “Ha, Yuanshi, you truly are capable!”
“Zhunti, Jieyin, instead of enjoying your bliss in the west, what are you doing here in my east?”
Zhunti Daoist held the Seven-Jeweled Tree, his smile unfading. “Fellow Daoist Tongtian, I have only come to resolve this conflict…”
“Bullshit!” Grandmaster Tongtian interrupted him directly. “The grudge between Yuanshi and me is a matter of our Xuanmen. Since when has it been the Western Sect’s turn to intervene?”
He turned to Yuanshi Tianzun, his eyes full of mockery. “Using the same old trick of calling for help. You truly are well-practiced in this, Senior Brother Yuanshi.”
“This is clearly a struggle between our two sects. Why must you drag outsiders in to help you?”
Yuanshi Tianzun’s expression remained unchanged, sticking to his old rhetoric. “Junior Brother, why do you say that? The Investiture of the Gods is determined by the Heavenly Dao. You are acting against heaven, bringing about your own destruction.”
“Heaven’s mandate?” Grandmaster Tongtian scoffed. “Your Chan Sect claims to have noble origins, thinking that innate beings are the only orthodox ones? My Sect of Interception teaches all without discrimination, with ten thousand immortals coming to pay homage. Does being birds or beasts make us the wrong path?”
The Qingping Sword in his hand vibrated violently. “Enough talk! Our Daos have always been different. Today, we shall see who is right!”
Seeing this, Laozi let out a soft sigh. “Junior Brother Tongtian…”
“Senior Brother, say no more!” Grandmaster Tongtian raised his hand to stop him. “You favor Yuanshi every single day. Do you think I don’t know? Today, I shall let you all witness the methods of my Sect of Interception!”
“I shall seek justice for my fallen disciples!”
Before his voice finished echoing, the Zhu Xian Sword Array began to operate at full power. The four sword gates simultaneously shot out terrifying sword qi, enveloping the four Saints within.
In the distance, Su Fu stood in the military camp watching the great battle.
Chesia was indignant. “How can the Chan Sect look down on birds and beasts?”
“Isn’t that just looking down on me? I’m casting my vote for the Sect of Interception!”
Su Fu could not help but laugh. “On that point, there is truly nothing to say against Grandmaster Tongtian.”
He really did love small animals.
Spirit Mother Gui Ling was a mysterious turtle, Jin Guang Xian was a golden-haired Hou, the Long-Browed Immortal was a green lion…
Grandmaster Tongtian never looked at one’s origins when taking disciples. As long as they had a heart for the Dao, they could enter his sect.
Chesia declared crossly, “In this showdown between Saints, even if Grandmaster Tongtian loses, he loses with backbone and charisma!”
“It’s much better than the Chan Sect, who shout about heaven’s mandate while four-on-one ganging up on him and letting their disciples snatch treasures!”
“They’re total hypocrites, acting all holy while being so low!”
Su Fu: “— You’re a snake, so you’re just unilaterally declaring the Sect of Interception the winner, aren’t you?”
Chesia said firmly, “Exactly!”
Right at that moment, Yuanshi Tianzun’s voice rang out:
“Since our junior brother refuses to repent, do not blame your senior brother for being heartless! Fellow daoists, break the array!”
The four Saints struck at once. Laozi rode the green bull, heading straight for the Xian Xian Sword from the western gate.
The green bull seemed to walk slowly, yet each step covered a thousand miles. In the blink of an eye, it was in the center of the array.
Seeing this, Grandmaster Tongtian immediately activated the Xian Xian Sword. Sword qi crisscrossed, and a tide of killing intent slashed directly toward the top of Laozi’s head.
*Buzz!*
At that moment, an exquisite pagoda suddenly appeared above Laozi’s head. The pagoda had nine layers and was entirely a dark yellow color. Radiance flowed around it, filled with profound mystery.
Su Fu’s eyes lit up. “Is that the legendary number one defensive treasure of the Great Desolation, the Exquisite Pagoda of Heaven and Earth’s Xuanhuang Qi?”
It was said that this pagoda was formed from the Xuanhuang Qi of heaven and earth. It was claimed that as long as it stood above one’s head, they would be innately invincible.
Sure enough, once the pagoda appeared, the Xian Xian Sword’s terrifying light was like a clay ox entering the sea. The sword qi, which was enough to slay a Daluo Golden Immortal, could not even penetrate the outermost layer of the pagoda’s profound light.
“As expected of the number one defensive treasure. It truly lives up to its reputation!” Su Fu whispered in admiration.
Simultaneously, Yuanshi Tianzun stepped into the array from the eastern Zhu Xian gate, rushing toward the Zhu Xian Sword.
As soon as he entered, the Zhu Xian Sword transformed into ten thousand streaks of sword light, carrying the power of slaughter that could destroy heaven and earth, attacking Yuanshi from all directions.
*Swish!*
Yuanshi Tianzun remained unhurried. A patch of Clouds of Celebration suddenly appeared above his head. Within the clouds, golden lotuses bloomed, pearls hung from jade pendants, and celestial music echoed.